System of handling coal.



W. B. HAMILTON.

SYSTEM OF HANDLING GOAL,

APPLIGATION nun Patented Jan. 14, 1913.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1 INVENTOR WILUAM E. HAM LTON QUE? S H F! G Z WIT/VEASES:

K "fir mum (L W. E. HAMILTON SYSTEM OF HANDLlNG 00m Hill,

APPLICATION PILLS) NOV, 1,5.

1,050,272 Patented Jan.14,1913.

4 SHEETS*SHEET 2.

7 I WILLIAM EHAMFLTQN BY A TTORNEY.

W. E. HAMILTON.

SYSTEM OF HANDLING GOAL.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 27, 1911.

Patented. J an. 14, 1913.

SHEETS-SHEET 3.

FIBE:

Wm M A R f m M N A W m E v M M A M U M w W v 0 J. i. i 1 1. I A I! L w n M W, in; HAMILTON. SYSTEM 0E HANDLING COAL. APPLECA'llON T1 LED NOV 27'. 1911:

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4 Patented Jan. 14, 1913.

HGAE

N'KLLIAM HAM'ILTOIJ', OF COLUMEUS. OHIO.

SYSGL'EEK OI HANDLING COAL.

Spiecifiazii'iun of Letiers Patent.

Punting-d Jan. I 41, 1913.

Application filed November 2?, 1911, Serial No 662,639.

3 Fl which iii yi iit oii fur illu hmiliii HmlLllzll iii hulk; 1%

mil unloading ii particularly 1 i5 mi (*rilzu'gmi liciiigmnizil section of the cent 'nl 1mm in cnhizziii isllflwlllg a portion of ii i" the spiral i'lllili' i'imhi-ii :1 m1 :UHl (he won- Wjiii' in was. l ig. l H iih: Qhe \flllh.) iii pint, of ilii cuhzmn 21ml Spiral (lillQ shaming n ummivr of animating the g'zilve 01w or him-u tum 0n the stairway ziiiiwc {hiaii {0 hi UlHl'LllQd- Fig. ll. is :m Milan; ihhiil showing 21, part of the wiiiwi i'u' and (hi lUWPl' mid of the spiral i'liiilt. and 2m milnn'intiv: gale and mochaimam liir ii mi'ziting llli? smile, the gala being i 1/ Hi 111m cnmlritmi slmwizig. :1 i

1L iii signed to be spotted or appropriately sitioned over suitable hoppers, the roadway to receive the material as it is dumped through the bottom of the cars, these hoppers communicating at their lower ends with the tunnel leading from. below the bin and through which tunnel. the conveyor, 12, is designed to travel continuously in one direction. The coal delivered from the cars is received into the buckets, M, as they pass under the hoppers and which huciz'ets are only illustrative of any form of device useful for conveying purposes. The COOK/"6Y6? shown is of the endless type and it passes over a direction pulley, 13, located at the top of a vertical column or tower, 16, said conveyer and its buckets passing vertically through this column which hollow for the purpose, and emerging trom the bottom thereof into a pit, which connects with the tunnel, 11, through which the buckets or like elements are caused to return beneath. the feeding hoppers, 15.

A leading feature of my ii'ivention is the employment of the hollow column or tower, which is constructed of any suitable and desired material, and which has an unobstructed interior for the passage of the eonveyer and its flights or buckets which travel empty through the column. The column or tower extends throughout the height of the bin and in the case of covered storage, as shown, the

column serves the useful function of a main support for the roof and also for a spiral stairway and chute which I will presently describe.

In the drawings illustrating one =;-mbodi ment of my invention I have shown a covered storage plant, but it will be understood thatthis is not essential in the working of the other and leading features of the ll'lV0ll-- tion and hence the invention is not limited to any particular size or design of storage bin, receptacle, area or space.

As shown in Figs. 1 to l inclusive, the central column or tower is encircled by a combined stairway and chute which extends spirally from one end of the column or tower to the other. This combined stairway and chute is composed of metal or other suitable material and at its upper end it is provided with a receiving hopper, 18, disposed in the range of action of the, conveyer and into which the buckets or like conveying members thereof are designed to automatically discharge their lead and thence proceed empty vertically through the column and into the tunnel and beneath the hoppers, 15

to be reloaded. Any suitable mechanism as 14 for tripping the buckets so that they will discharge into the hoppers; 18, of the spiral chute may be employed and as this constitutes no essential part of the present invention, a specific form of tripper is not disclosed, but it will be understood that any 15, built in supplied with hand-wlmels,

binod chute and stairway appropriate means may be employed for tripping the buckets so that they succes sively arrive over the hopper, 18, they will discharge their load into said hopper. The hopper, l3, communicates directly with the upper end of the spiral chute which ..nderlies a spirally arranged stairway, 19, which has a suitable hand rail, 20, for the convenience and safety of the operators, who travel over the stairway in order to r uich and operate certain controlling gates. The spiral chute is preferably square in cross section, but it may have other form; it smooth and contii'iuous throughout and through said chute the coal slides with a free and easy action, the inclination of the. chute being such as will enable the coal to slide gently from its point of inlet to the point of dis charge, which may he the pit below the column which pit traversed by the comeycr, as shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4. .'\t suitable point. along the spiral chute there are made in the side walls thereof openings which are controlled by suitable gates, 21, preferably of a vcrtically-slidable type, these gates being connected to stems or rozls, which are j urnnlcd on the chute and the handrail thereof and which have their upper portions :23, or like parts by which the stems may he turned to cause the gates to move vertically to open or close their respective openings The hand-wheels are mzn'iipulalrd by an o 'ieraror stationtwl on tairway wh ch latter all'ords easy a ce s to the eicial gates throughout the entire length of the spiral chute. whereby the gates may lui successively opened and closed in either ascilnding or descending order in the loading" and unloading of the storage bin. l also provide the comwilh spirally arranged rails or trail-rs. Ql. between which suitable wheels or rollers. are designed to travel. this whet-led structure being in fact part oi the inner end of a suitable tiltable spout, 2?, which is designed to be brought into regi ter with the various openings in the side of the chute so that when any opening is exposed by the raising of its controlling gate, the material is discharged through said opening and into the spout, as I will hereinafter explain in the operation of the system. I also propose to use at the lower end of the spiral chute where it enters the pit leading to the tunnel, some well known and appropriate form of automatic discharge gate, 27, which will be operated automatically by the conveyer, or may be operated by hand it'desired. The discharge lirl' gate, 27, may be kept closed by reason of its counterweighted arm, 27, or by any other well known means and when closed the gate shuts oil the escape of material from the bottom of the chute, consequently the mate rial will accumulate in the chute toa point about the level of the pile of stored material, and the material thus accumulated in the chute will serve to deflect.- the incoming material through the proper openings into the bin. 'hen the gate, 27, is opened, the material in the lower part of the chute passes out and into the conveyor thercbelow, and the material at the top of the pile will drift in 'ardly through the proper open gates, which operation occurs when the material is being reclaimed or removed from storage.

The specific character of the discharge gate is immaterial provided it will success fully control the discharge at the bottom. of the spiral chute. One embodiment of such gate, 27, appears in Figs. 11 and 12, as of segmental form pivoted to the lower end of the spiral chute and having an outwardly extending weighted arm, 27, to insure the proper automatic closing of the gate after it has been opened for the discharge of. material. Fixed to said gate, 27, is an arm, a, to the lower end of which is connected a horizontally extending arm, I), which in turn is pivotally attached to a. vertically extending arm, 0, whose lower end extends into the range of action of the conveyer so as to be actuated thereby. The arm, 0, may be supplied With a roller, (1, engaged by rollers, e. or like parts on the conveyor chain to open the gate as the buckets pass thereunder, said gate being returned by its Weighted arm. as before describedp If desired, the arm, c, may be supplied with a suitable rod or handle, f, which serves as a means for opening the gate by hand.

By the means described, or others of an equivalent character, charges of material may be removed from the bin and deposited on the conveyer tor reclaiming; in other words for transfer to cars or other vehicles positioned on tracks alongside of the storage bin.

In Figs. 1, spout, 60, which may be employed for conducting material to cars standing aloi'igside the storage bin, said spout being of any wel known construction and being shown only diagrainniatically in the drawings as it forms no es ential part; of the present invention. I have also shown in Fig. 5. that the bin may be subdivided by radial parti' tions, into various compartments which will be useful in the storage of different kinds 0r grades of coal, or other material, it being understood that these various compartments communicate with the spiral chute through the gate-controlled openings before mentioned. whereby those gates which communicate with a particular compartment may receive the coal or material from the latter and deliver it to the conveyer in the manner before described.

fl and 4, I show a vertical' ceiving hoppers, 15 and the dumped coal is taken up by the conveyor and deposited into the receiving hopper. it of the spiral chute. in this operation all of the gates. 21, controlling the side outlets t'rom the chute are closed except the one at the bottom and henc the coal llows out of this lowest gate and tills the lower part of the storage space or in; as soon as the coal tlowing out of this now open gate has reached the le\el of repose. the next higher gate is opened by an attemlant on the stairway which overlies the chute and this operation is continued. successively higher gates being opened until the storage space is entirely filled, and the coal is stored to substantially the maximum capacity of the bin. or to any desired height. the coal thus st red being in the form of a conical pile ot which the spiral chute and the hollow column form the center. it will be understood that there is a decided ad vantage in this manner of storing coal for there is a great saving in breakage, and in storage space, while the area of surtaee ov r which the coal slides after its a -uLT through the spiral chute is very much di minished by the confining walls ot the bin or storage chamber, and may be further diminished by the use of the traveling spout, it), which may be (.{tlhttl to move iutt'i'rcgi ter with any of the gate-controlled outlets. 2!, this spout traveling radially around the s 'iiral chute. and said spout. so. hay ing sullicicnt length to deliver the coal some distance from the spi'al chute so that it docs not slide over itself as great a distance as when discharged from the gates dirct ly on the pile and near the center of the same.

In reclain'iing or loading out. of storage, the operation before described is simply reversed. The gate 21. are already closed, including the a utomatie gate, QT. at the bottom of the chute and which controls thc discharge of the material from the chute to the conveyor beneath. This gate. opened to allow the i'naterial to be properly fed to the convevcr. and as the spiral chute ha an exces capacity over the conveyor so that it is always kept t'ull, there is present, in the spiral chute sutlicient material to continuously feed the ei'inveyer.

In the reclaiming operation. the uppermost gate is first op ned to allow the material to drift through the exposed opening into the spiral conveyer; if desired, the chute, 26, may be inclined upwardly. as in Fig. 8, to assist this operation. Succe sively lower gates are opened as the pile decreases and accordingly the coal drifts through these succes ively-opcned gates and forms a continuous stream of a gently moving body of coal, which practically fills the spiral chute from the po nt of gate-controlled inlet to tl 'lhere is main p in nieznatic lit filflt'flt. e. i a great advantage in the reclaiming of coal and like material by removing successive portions from the top of the pile .tom of a pile under the heavy pressure of overlying coal, is very much broken, consequently there is a saving it material and far less breakage when removing coal from the top of the pile where it is not undergoing pressure.

The gates, even though covered with the coal, may be readily operated by the handwheels, 23, and in case an avalanche of coal covers a particular gate, said gate can be Operated from a higher turn on the stairway. An arrangement for this purpose is shown in Fig. 10, the stems of the gates being in this case of sufiicient length to extend from one turn of the spiral stairway to another and being supplied with hand-wheels placed one, two or more turns on the stairway above the gate.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a system of the character described, the combination of a conveyer and hollow column around which the material is stored, said column having a spiral inclosed chute alongwhich the material gravitates after being discharged from the conveyer, said chute having outlets for the material and said chute filling with the piling of the material and the material in the chute serving to deflect incoming material through said outlets.

2. In a storage system of the character described, the combination with a conveyer, of a hollow, vertical column through which the conveyer passes, said column forming a centerabout which the material is stored, and having a spiral inclined .chut'e into which the material is discharged and along which it gravitates to the point of discharge.

3. In a system of the character described, the combination of a conveyer and a spiral chute into which the conveyer discharges and along which the material gravitates, said chute having outlets for the material andsaid chute filling wit-h the piling of the material and the m..terial in the chute serving to deflect incoming material through said outlets.

4. In a system of the character described,

the combination of a conveyer and a 'spiral chute into which the. conveyer discharges, said chute forming a center about which the material is stored and along which the material gravitates to the point of discharge, said chute adapted to fill with the piling of the material outside of the same and the material in the chute, serving to deflect incoming material through said discharge.

5. In a storage system of the character decommunicates, said chute having a closable bottom, and having gate controlled outlets at different levels, and means whereby the gates may be opened or closed in ascending and descending order for the storage or reclaiming of the material.

7. In a storage plant of the character described, the combination of a conveyer, a spiral chute, a closure at the lower end of the chute, means for discharging material into said chute along which chute the material gravitatcs, said material collecting 'in the chute and serving to deflect laterally incoming portions of the material when the bottom closure is closed, and passing unobstructedly through the chute when said closure is open, said chute having side open ings arranged in spiral order along the chute, corresponding gates controlling the openings. and a covered bin within which the chute is arranged.

8. In a storage system of the character described, the combination with a conveyer, of a hollow vertical column through which the conveyer passes, said column forming a center about which the material is stored, and having a spiral inclined chute into which the material is discharged and along which it gravitates to the point of discharge, said chute having outlets and means for controlling the same.

9. In a storage system of the character described, the combination with a conveyer, of a vertical column having an encircling spirally arranged chute with openings at points along the length thereof leading to the space outside of the column, said column being hollow for the passage of the conveyer, and said chute having one end ar-. ranged in the range of travel of the conveyer and adapted to receive the material therefrom.

10. In a system of the character described, a storage chamber, a vertical column therein, around which material may be stored as a center, said column being hollow and having around its outside a spirally arranged chute, said chute having gate-controlled outlets at points along its length for discharging material at successively higher levels, and means for feeding material to said chute,-said column being hollow for the passage of the feeding means.

11. A system of the character described, compgising an endless conveyer, a vertical along which the material gravitat'es after column formed hollow for the passageof the conveye'r, and a spirally' arranged chute formed around the exterior of the column having an inlet end disposed in the range of travel of the conveyer andhaving gate-controlled outlets. at points in its length.

12. Ina system of the character described,

the combination of a conveyer, a hollow column around which the material is stored in bulk, said column having a spirally in closed chute along which the material gravitates after being discharged from the conveyer, said chute having gate-controlled openings arranged at successively different levels,- means whereby the gates may '-be opened successively in ascending order when piling material for'storagepurposes, said chute having means for-retaining a part of the material in the chute-for the-purpose of deflecting incoming portions g f l material through said openings.

13. In-a system of the character described, thecombinatibn; of a'conveyer and a hollow column around which the material is stored, said column having a-spiral 'inclosed chute being discharged from the conveyer, said chute l'iaving gate controlled opening's arranged in spiral order.

14. A system of the character described,

comprising a vertical column around which material may be successively piled said col- -umn having a spirally arranged chute along which the material isallowedto gravitate, said chute having gate-controlled outlets, at successively different levels for leading inaterial outside of the column, and an auxiliary spout movably mounted on the chute and adapted to be brought -into register with the gate-controlled openings'thereof.

15. A system of the character described,i

comprising a vertical column around which material may be successively piled said col-v umn having a spirally-arranged chu'te'along which the material is allowed to gravitate, said chute having gate-controlled outlets, at successively different levels for leading material outside of the column, and an aux iliary'spout movably mounted on the chute and adapted to be brought into register \with the gate-controlled openings thereof,

said chute having guide rails upon which the auxiliary spout is mounted whereby the coal from the gates to discharge the same at a suitable distance from the central column; 17. A systemof the character "described,

having in combinations bin subdivided into compartments, :1 spirally-arranged chute forming the center of the bin and about whichtlfematerial is piled, said chute having a mo /able closure at the bottom and having gate-controlled openings lee ding into the differentcompartments of the-bin, and means lor operating the gates.

' 18. 'In a system of the character described,

and in combination with a conveyer', a vertical column or tower forming a' center about which loose material may be progressively piled, said column having a central longitudinal passage for the conveyer'and having a chute spirally encircling it and along which the material gravitates', said chute different levels, and a compartment bininclosingthe column and piled material having its compartments connecting with thespiral chute.

19. In a coal or like storage plant, iconveyer, a hollow column arranged about-the center of said plant, and a spiral chute coiled around the exterior ofthe column having an inlet at one end and a'discharge at the other, said column serving as a tunnel or protection for the conveyer.-

'20. In a coal or like storage. plant, a conveyer, a hollow column arrangedaboutthe center of said plant, and a spiral chute coiled around the exterior of the column having an inlet at one end and a discharge at the other, said column serving-as a tunnel or protection for the 1conveyer, said chute having gate-controlled openings throughout its length and meansfwhereby the gates may be opened in ascending or descending order for the storage or-reclaiming of the material.-

having gate-controlled openings arranged at 21. In a coal or like storage plant a conveyer, a hollow column arranged about the center of said plant, and. a spiral chute coiled about the exterior of the column having an inlet at one end and a discharge at the'othensaid'column serving as a. support for the 'spiral' chute, and said chute having gate-controlled openings throughout its length and means whereby the gates may be opened in ascending or descending order for the storage or reclaiming of material.

22. In a coal or like storage pl'ant, and in combination with a conveyer, a hollow column having a spirally arranged chute around'its exterior, said column and chute forming a center about which material is stored, and said column serving as a tunnel or protection for the conveyor, said chute having gate'controlled openings and means onnecting with the gates whereby said gates may be opened in descending order to allow material to drift back into the chute when I loading out of storage.

23. In a system of the character described, a storage bin having a bottom in the form .of a conical pit, of which the angle of inclination of its floor is about the same as the angle at which the stored material reposes, said pit having a'disc'harge gate at its central point, a spirally-arranged chute within the bin, a conveyer operable under said gate to receive discharged material therefrom,

and a movable closure for the bottom of the 24. In a system of the character described,"

vable closure at its lower portion for opening or closing the passage through the chute.

25. In a system of the character described,

a storage space or receptacle having a floor in the form of a conical pit, said pit having a discharge opening near its central point,-

a spirally-arranged chute within the bin, a conveyer operable under said discharge opening to receive material discharged therefrom, and supporting means for the be stored in the bin, and mechanism for' loading material into the bin and unloading it therefrom, said mechanism comprising a spirally arranged chute forming the center of the stored material and having gate-controlled openings, and means operating axially through the spiral chute and adapted to deliver material into the inlet end,of said chute.

27. In a system of loading and unloading, a vertical column forming the center about which material is piled, said column having a spirally-arranged chute with an inlet at one end and a discharge at the-opposite end and having gate-controlled openings, astairway associated with the chute, and

. mechanism for operating the gates from said stairway. I In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

WILLIAM E. HAMILTON. Witnesses:

C. M. SHIGLEY, CHAS. C. BOSTWICK. 

